Flow regulating means for oil wells



March 7, 1939. I J OE'HLER 2,150,077

FLOW REGULATING MEANS FOR OIL WELLS Filed Feb. 11, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 7, 1939.

J. L OEHLER FLOW REGULATING MEANS FOR OIL WELLS Filed Feb. 11, 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Inventor dz. aeZ v zmwflaa. ZWM

Attorneys Patented Mar. 1, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT-OFFICE 2,150,011 now REGULATING MEANS FOR 011. WELLS Jesse L. Oehler, Jennings, La. I v Application February 11,1938, Serial No. 190,116

' 3 Claims. (01. 211-51) structed valved jointing unit or coupling for adjoining complemental pipe sections in the line, said unit having incorporated therein a plurality of selectively usable valves, all or any one of whichmay be utilized to adjust and determinethe flow j of oil through said lines.

Visualized with greater particularity, the invention comprises a novel-nippleconstruction having therein a multiple bored partition or choke plate, there being associated with said plate a multiple valvecarrying head provided with self adapting selectively usable valving means.

Other features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is what may be conveniently called a top plan view of the assembly seen in Figure 2.

Figure 2 is a central vertical section'through the arrangement depicted in Figure 1, portions being in elevation for adequate and satisfactory illustration.

Figure 3 is a horizontal section taken on the plane of the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view, of one of the'bore lining inserts.

Referring now to the ing reference characters, it will bev observed that the nipple style coupling device, as a unit, is

One section of the.

denoted by the numeral 5. pipe line B is connected thereto and constitutes the inlet.- The other pipe section (not shown).

is connected to the. nipple per se forming the outlet and indicated at I; The cylindrical body portion 8 is properly tapered and reduced as at 9 to merge into the outlet 1, this being in longitudinalalignment with the pipe 6. The threaded end of the pipe 6 is tapped into a screwthreaded collar I0 formed centrally in the annular closing head H ,the latter part being bolted to the shell or wall of the casing-as indicated at the point I2; That part of the body 8 to which the annular head 'I I is bolted is slightly reduced in. thickness to form a shoulder as at the point drawings'by distinguish- I3 and this shoulder serves to accommodate the flanged or shouldered end ll of the removable adapter plate or partitioning member l5. This part i5 is a heavy steel disk of considerable thickness and the same is provided eccentrically with a bore. In each bore isa tubular insert l6. Each insert I6 is renewable and composed of a suitable hard alloy metal. These inserts (preferably tungsten. carbide, or perhaps a special steel ebonite rubber) can be driven out and replaced to change the diameter'of the bore or passage as desired. The shoulder portion I4 is properly matched and appropriately connected to the shoulder portion 13 by way of dowel pins or the like 18. .Then too, similar dowel pinsv I! are employed between the annulus H and the body 8. The use of one or'more dowel pins I8 is perhaps a necessary 'adjunct in that the annulus ll .must' accurately fit the body at the exact or predetermined point, in order to line up properly with the divider plate. In some instances, the elements 20 are numbered (not shown) to indicate the size of the bore or openings therebeneath. Consequently, the respective dowel pins IT and; I8 facilitate accurate'assembling and matching of the coordinating features.

The detachable and renewable closing head or annulus II is providedwithscrew-threaded holes in alignment with-the lined passages vin the partitioning or divlderplate l5. Adjusting screws I9 having tool-ends are threaded into these holes. A suitable packing gland 2| is utilized and a tight adjustment is maintained by the associated lock nut 22. On the stem on 'the inner end of the adjusting screw is a pivoted conical valve element 23, this being self-leveling and therefore self-adapting to adjust itself to the concaved valve seat ring I1.

It will be observed that the central portion of the divider or partitioning plate I5 is imperiorate. It is the marginal or peripheral portion which is provided with the especally lined fluid passages. Moreover, there is a valve .for each passage and it is possible to completely close, completely open, or partially close any one of the passages l6. 'I'hus the oil, as it flows into the unit 5 by way of the inlet pipe 6, is trapped in the chamber 24 and its' passage into the outlet 'chamber is determined or regulated by the bores can be repaired by simply driving out the lining sleeves I l and replacing them with new ones. Then too, the individual self-leveling or adapting valve devices are renewable andreplaceable as is the complete head ll. Moreover, by having definite control of the flow oi the fluid at all times through the medium of this device, repairs in the fluid line may be made expeditiously to the mutual advantage of all concerned.

It is thought that the description taken in connection with the drawings will enable a clear understanding of the invention to be had. Therefore, a more lengthy description is thought unnecessary.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown and described, it is to be understood that minor changes coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to if desired.

I claim:

1. A flow control coupling of the class described comprising a body cylindrical in cross section and reduced in diameter at one end and terminating in a screw threaded attaching nipple, the opposite end being open and provided with an internal abutment shoulder, a disklike block fitting into said coupling and having a shoulder engaging first named shoulder, said block having a plurality of eccentric circumierentially spaced fluid passages extending therethrough, the outer end of said block terminating inwardly 01' the adjacent end 01' the body, an annulus detachably bolted on the open end 01' said body andconstituting a closure and having a central screw threaded pipe attaching collar, and a plurality of eccentrically mounted individually adjustable screws threaded in said annulus and extending into said body and provided on their inner ends with self-adapting conical valve heads cooperable with said passages.

2. In a flow regulating coupling for oil wells, a hollow body having a pipe line accommodation outlet nipple at one end, a removable closing head at the opposite end, said head being provided with means for operative connection 01 the inlet pipe thereto, said head being marginally provided with a plurality of circumierentially spaced screw-threaded holes, a partition mounted in the body intermediate the ends thereof and disposed parallel to said closing head, said partition having circumterentially spaced holes in registry with holes in said head, individual renewable and removable bushings mounted in the holes in said partition, the normal upper ends of said bushings being provided with conical valve seats,-a screw-threaded valve operating boltin each of the threaded holes in said head, the outer end of the bolt being readily accessible and disposed eccentrically with respect to the inlet pipe connection, and a conical selfadapting and seating valve head on the inner end of each bolt disposed for coaction with the adjacent valve seat on the complemental bushings.

3. A flow control and coupling unit adapted for disposition between the pipe ends and comprising a coupling having an outlet nipple at-r tachable to one pipe, the opposite end 01' said coupling being open and provided with an internal abutment shoulder, a partitioning block fltting into said coupling andhaving a shoulder engaging the first named shoulder, said block having a plurality of eccentric circumierentially spaced fluid passages extending therethrough, the valving face of said block terminating inwardly of the adjacent end oi! the coupling body, an annulus detachably bolted to the open end of said body and disposed in parallelism with said block and having a central screw-threaded pipe attaching collar, and a plurality of eccentrically mounted individually adjustable screws threadedly mounted in said annulus and extending into the body and provided on their inner ends with self-adapting valve heads cooperable with said passages.

JESSE L. OEHLER. 

